Restrictions:All Ages

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Every day at 5pm, a Last Post ceremony is conducted on the forecourt of the National War Memorial in Wellington. The service, which lasts approximately 7 minutes, includes the lowering of the two New Zealand flags at the Memorial, the playing of the Last Post, the observation of one minute’s silence and the recitation of the Ode of Remembrance in both te reo Māori and English.

Before the Last Post ceremony each Sunday, at around 4.50 pm, the story of a New Zealander who died as a result of the First World War is read aloud outside of the Hall of Memories. Each week’s story is displayed during the week inside the Hall of Memories and can also be read online at http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/keyword/last-post-stories.

Any person can be a part of the daily remembrance and members of the public are welcome to lay floral tributes at the end of the ceremony.

The roles of the bugler and the Ode Reciters are open to anyone who wants to be involved. On days where no member of the public has registered to participate, these roles will also be filled by New Zealand Defence Force personnel.

Individuals as well as groups are encouraged to participate in these ceremonies. If you would like to play the Last Post at the ceremony or recite the Ode in either te reo Māori, or English, or both languages, then please visit our website, fill in the form and a representative of the New Zealand Defence Force will contact you to confirm details.

The daily Last Post ceremonies are part of the First World War centenary programme and conducted by the New Zealand Defence Force, in partnership with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.